Air India pilot's mental health probed and medical records seized after fuel turned off in cockpit killing 260
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CRASH investigators are said to be investigating the medical records of the doomed Air India flight Captain amid claims he suffered from mental health problems.
Preliminary report into the fatal crash found the plane's fuel switches were cut off, which led to a catastrophic loss of thrust during the initial take-off.
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Captain Sumeet Sabharwal was the lead pilot in the doomed Air India flight
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Officials inspect the remains of the Air India passenger plane at the crash site near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad
Credit: EPA
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One of the rear landing gears amid debris at the site of a plane crash
Credit: EPA
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The plane seconds before disaster
Credit: X
The Air India flight bound to London Gatwick was led by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who was reportedly just months away from retirement.
But the pilot had been considering leaving the airlines early to look after his elderly father, The Telegraph revealed.
A leading aviation expert in India told the media outlet that Captain Sabharwal reportedly suffered from mental health issues and depression - and had taken time off in the last few years following his mum's death.
Captain Mohan Ranganathan, a former instructor pilot of Boeing 737, said: "I have heard from several Air India pilots who told me he had some depression and mental health issues.
"He had taken time off from flying in the last three to four years."
Although Mr Ranganathan added that Captain Sabharwal "must have been medically cleared by the company [Air India] doctors" before flying.
He is understood to have taken a Class I medical exam on September 5 last year.
Investigators are now said to be probing his medical records after the preliminary crash report indicated there may have been human error, although some aviation experts claim it is a case of deliberate action.
Sources said the black box analysis has so far been unable to rule out 'improper, inadvertent or intentional' action that caused them to be flipped.
Families of the victims who tragically died in the crash have slammed the preliminary report as a cover-up.
Second-by-second breakdown of Air India jet disaster from mayday call to horror crash – all within a minute of takeoff
They have dubbed the investigation "biased" and said it only appears to "blame the dead pilots".
The Airline Pilots' Association of India (APAI) rejected the 'tone and direction' of the inquiry and said it came without sufficient evidence.
However, India's Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said that investigators probed in a "mature, transparent" way.
"This is a preliminary report. We want the final report to come in, so let us wait for it," he added.
Early findings in the 15-page report released by the Indian authorities indicate switches to the engines' fuel supplies were moved from the "RUN" position to "CUTOFF".
The fuel switches were then toggled to the "RUN" position, and the engines appeared to be gathering power, but failed to stop the plane from decelerating.
Key findings of the report:
Dual engine shutdown - fuel cutoff switches moved from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF'
- fuel cutoff switches moved from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' Confusion between pilots - cockpit audio confirms one pilot asked 'why did you cutoff', the other replied 'I didn't'
- cockpit audio confirms one pilot asked 'why did you cutoff', the other replied 'I didn't' RAT deployed - as seen in CCTV footage before the crash
- as seen in CCTV footage before the crash Engine relight attempted - fuel switches were found returned to the "RUN" at crash site
- fuel switches were found returned to the "RUN" at crash site 32 seconds - the time the aircraft was airborne before it crashed
the time the aircraft was airborne before it crashed Thrust levers mismatch - Thrust levers found at idle but black box data shows takeoff thrust was still engaged
- Thrust levers found at idle but black box data shows takeoff thrust was still engaged Fuel test pass - fuel was clean without any contamination
- fuel was clean without any contamination Normal take-off set-up - Flaps and landing gear correctly configured
- Flaps and landing gear correctly configured No bird activity - clear skies, good visibility, light winds
- clear skies, good visibility, light winds Pilot credentials clear - both medically fit and rested
- both medically fit and rested No sabotage detected - although FAA alerted over a known fuel switch vulnerability not checked by Air India
- although FAA alerted over a known fuel switch vulnerability not checked by Air India Aircraft loading - the flight was within weight and balance limits
Analysis of the cockpit voice recording revealed that one of the pilots asked: 'Why did you cut off?"
To which the other pilot replied: 'I didn't."
Though the report does not identify which comments were made by the flight's captain and which were made by the first officer.
Nor does it "identify the cause - whether it was crew error, mechanical malfunction, or electronic failure."
Flipping the switches to cut off almost immediately cuts the fuel supply to the engines.
It is most often used to turn engines off once a plane has arrived at its airport gate and in certain emergency situations, such as an engine fire.
But the inconclusive report, which came after 30 days of the crash, does not indicate that the flight encountered any such emergency situation.
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A cockpit view of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft shows the fuel switch; Annotations by The Sun Graphics
Credit: Getty
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Clive Kunder was the co-pilot on the doomed fligh
Credit: Getty
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Rear end of the aircraft after it crashed into a medical hostel
It is almost impossible to turn the switches off accidentally - they must be pulled up and locked before flipping - a safety design feature that was introduced decades ago.
Protective guards are further installed to minimise the risks - raising further questions as to why the fuel switches in the Air India flight were turned off.
The report points out that the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2018 issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) - highlighting that a few Boeing 737 fuel control switches were installed with the locking feature disengaged.
But it was not deemed unsafe, and no Airworthiness Directive (AD) - a legally enforceable regulation to correct unsafe conditions in a product - was issued.
A similar switch design is used in Boeing 787-8 aircraft, including Air India's VT-ANB Dreamliner in question.
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The FAA and Boeing have now privately issued notifications that the fuel switch locks on Boeing planes are safe, according to four sources and a document seen by Reuters.
The report said Air India had said it had not carried out the FAA's suggested inspections, as the FAA 2018 advisory was not a legal mandate.
But it also said maintenance records showed that the throttle control module, which includes the fuel switches, was replaced in 2019 and 2023 on the plane involved in the crash.
Experts have said a pilot would not be able to accidentally move the fuel switches.
"If they were moved because of a pilot, why?" asked U.S. aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner with 242 passengers on board - including 53 Brits - smashed into a doctors' hostel in Ahmedabad in the west of India.
The plane was headed to London Gatwick when it crashed just seconds after take-off, killing all but one passenger.
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Landing gear of the Air India plane crashed directly on the BJ Medical College UG hostel mess
Credit: x/mitrapredator
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The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
What are fuel switches and why do they matter in the Air India crash?
The first clues from the investigation into the London Gatwick -bound Air India plane that crashed in India's Ahmedabad last month, killing 260 people, reveal that the aircraft's engine fuel cutoff switches shut off the fuel supply to the engines almost simultaneously, causing confusion among the pilots. According to the preliminary report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), released early Saturday, the cockpit voice recorder captured one pilot asking the other why he had cut off the fuel in the final moments before the crash. The other pilot responded that he had not done so, the report revealed, raising fresh questions about the position of the critical engine fuel cutoff switches. The report from India's AAIB did not identify which remarks were made by the flight's captain and which by the first officer. It is also not immediately clear which pilot issued the 'Mayday, Mayday, Mayday' call to air traffic control in Ahmedabad just before the crash. In what is the world's deadliest aviation accident in a decade, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London on 12 June from the western Indian city of Ahmedabad began losing thrust and started to descend shortly after takeoff. One of the closed-circuit TV footages captured the moment the plane lifted off the ground, followed by the deployment of a backup energy source called the ram air turbine (RAT). These early signs, even before the report, suggested that the high-end aircraft had lost power from both engines. New clues into the plane crash reveal that the fuel switches flipped almost simultaneously from 'run' to 'cutoff' just after takeoff. The preliminary report does not explain how the switches could have moved to the 'cutoff' position during the flight. At the crash site, both fuel switches were found in the 'run' position, and there were indications that both engines had begun relighting before the low-altitude crash, according to the report released around 1.30am IST on Saturday (2000 GMT on Friday). What are fuel cutoff switches? The fuel control switches, prominently located on the critical cockpit control panel, regulate the flow of fuel into each of the plane's two engines. Pilots flying the aircraft use fuel cutoff switches to start or shut down engines on the ground. In the event of an engine failure during a flight, the pilots can manually shut down or restart engines using these switches. They are centrally located on the pedestal between the two pilot seats, positioned just behind the throttle levers. These switches cannot be accidentally or gently moved by pilots operating a flight. The fuel cutoff switches are spring-loaded to remain firmly in place. They operate in two modes — 'CUTOFF' and 'RUN'. 'Cutoff' stops the fuel supply to the engine, while 'Run' allows fuel to flow. A pilot must first pull the switch up before moving it from the 'Run' to the 'Cutoff' position, or vice versa. Aviation experts have emphasised that these switches cannot be accidentally moved while operating the flight deck; if they are moved, the engine power would immediately be cut off. US aviation safety expert John Cox has said that the fuel cutoff switches and the fuel valves are two independent power systems, and that the valves are controlled by the switches. Why do they matter in the Air India crash? The fuel cutoff switches offer the first preliminary insight into the Air India plane crash. According to the report, there was no indication of an onboard emergency that would have required an engine cutoff. Switching to cutoff is typically done to shut down engines after a plane has reached the airport gate or in specific emergencies, such as an engine fire. No such situation was recorded in the report. A pilot would almost never turn the switches off mid-flight, especially during the initial climb, said US aviation expert John Nance. Additionally, the report notes, citing maintenance records, that the throttle control module on VT-ANB was replaced in 2019 and again in 2023. 'However, the reason for the replacement was not linked to the fuel control switch. There has been no defect reported pertaining to the fuel control switch since 2023 on VT-ANB,' it said. Aviation experts in India have urged caution in drawing final conclusions from the preliminary report on the Air India flight's crash, but said it is 'conclusive that the fuel to engines was cut'. 'Remember, a preliminary report lays out the facts of the case, not the why of the case. So, don't be quick to jump to conclusions. The only thing conclusive is that the fuel to engines was cut. The Why is the more mysterious question, one that will take time to establish,' said Ajay Awtaney, an Indian aviation journalist wrote on X.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Air India crash latest: India orders airlines to check Boeing fuel switches after report on Ahmedabad tragedy
India's aviation regulator has ordered airlines to inspect fuel switch locks on Boeing aircraft after a report on the Air India Flight 171 crash showed both engines lost fuel seconds after takeoff. The US aviation regulator has insisted the type of fuel switch installed on the Air India Boeing 787-8 was safe amid a growing row over who is to blame for the deadly crash. A preliminary investigation into the disaster noted a US aviation regulator 2018 bulletin which recommended airlines inspect the fuel switch locking mechanism of Boeing planes. The US FAA said its 2018 advisory "was based on reports that the fuel control switches were installed with the locking feature disengaged" but added this did not make the planes unsafe. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said Air India did not do this at the time, while also suggesting human error might have been to blame for the crash which killed 260 people on 12 June. It found that switches controlling fuel flow to the jet's two engines had been moved from 'run' to the 'cut-off' position shortly after take off to London Gatwick. The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association said the crew "acted in line with their training and responsibilities under challenging conditions and the pilots shouldn't be vilified based on conjecture". Key questions after Air India flight 171 crash report How did both engine fuel control switches – designed with locking mechanisms to prevent accidental movement – get flipped to the 'cutoff' position within seconds of takeoff? Could a mechanical malfunction override the spring-loaded safety design, or was it human error? Why were the switches later found back in the 'run' position at the crash site – were the pilots trying to recover engine power too late? What exactly happened in the cockpit during those final 32 seconds, and why did one pilot ask the other, 'Why did you cut it off?' Is there evidence of confusion, miscommunication, or a systems failure? Can such a catastrophic loss of thrust occur again, despite multiple safety barriers meant to prevent it? Maroosha Muzaffar15 July 2025 05:00 India's aviation regulator orders airlines to inspect fuel switch locks on Boeing India's aviation regulator has ordered airlines to inspect fuel switch locks on Boeing aircraft after a report on the Air India Flight 171 crash showed both engines lost fuel seconds after takeoff. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued the order after several Indian and foreign airlines began inspecting the fuel switch locking mechanisms on their own. The prelim report into the Air India flight 171 has triggered debate over pilot error versus mechanical failure. While Air India urged caution, pilot unions condemned speculation, especially around suicide. A 2018 FAA advisory had flagged fuel switch lock issues on some Boeing models. Maroosha Muzaffar15 July 2025 04:52 What the preliminary report reveals about the Air India crash The cockpit voice recorder from Air India Flight 171 has shed light on the tense final moments before the crash, with one pilot reportedly asking the other, 'Why did you cut it off?' – a reference to the fuel control switches that were somehow flipped to the 'cut-off' position just after takeoff, causing both engines to lose power. The preliminary report stops short of assigning blame, but the exchange has reopened the debate around pilot error and mechanical fault. Even the insinuation that a pilot's error could be behind the crash has angered the community. An Indian pilots' association rejected the presumption of pilot error in the Ahmedabad crash. The Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA-India), which represents Indian pilots at the Montreal-based International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations, called for "fair, fact-based inquiry." "The pilots body must now be made part of the probe, at least as observers," ALPA India president Sam Thomas said on Sunday. Maroosha Muzaffar15 July 2025 04:30 Who were the pilots of doomed Air India flight as preliminary report brings scrutiny? Captain Sumeet Sabharwal: Sabharwal, 56, started his aviation career in the early 1990s and logged more than 15,000 hours of flying experience. Joining Air India in 1994, he went on to become 'line training captain', a role to train and guide co-pilots during live flights. He had obtained clearances to fly as pilot-in-command on several aircraft, including the Boeing 787 and 777 and the Airbus A310. First officer Clive Kunder: Unlike Captain Sabharwal, first officer Cliver Kunder, 32, was at the beginning of a promising aviation career, with over 3,400 hours of flight time to his name. Kunder grew up in Mumbai and was living alone in the Goregaon area. According to Indian media reports citing relatives, he had dreamt of flying since childhood. He began his journey as a pilot in 2012 and joined Air India in 2017. Read more about them here: Who were the pilots of doomed Air India flight? One pilot was nearing retirement while the other just beginning his aviation career Maroosha Muzaffar15 July 2025 04:00 What did the Air India CEO say in internal memo? The probe into last month's crash of an Air India plane in Ahmedabad is far from over and it is unwise to jump to any premature conclusions, airline CEO Campbell Wilson said in an internal memo on Monday after the release of a preliminary report by investigators. The memo, reviewed by Reuters, comes after the report depicted confusion in the cockpit shortly before the crash of the Boeing Dreamliner that killed 260 people. It said the plane's engine fuel cutoff switches flipped almost simultaneously and starved the engines of fuel. 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Alexander Butler15 July 2025 03:00 Recap: Families of victims left questioning how the tragedy took place The findings have left some families of victims questioning how the tragedy took place, and if it was avoidable. Badasab Syed, 59, who lost his brother, 49-year-old IT professional Inayat Syed, his sister-in-law, and their two children in the crash, said he has just been left with more questions. He told the BBC: 'The report mentions the pilots discussing who turned off fuel and a possible issue with the fuel control switch. We don't know what that means? Was it avoidable?' Ayushi Christian, who married Lawrence Christian in 2023 before migrating to the UK, said her husband was in India because he had been performing the last rites of his father. He was on the AI 171 flight to return home to the UK. Following the release of an initial report into the incident, Ms Christian told the BBC: 'It has been one month since the crash, but no action has been taken by the government so far. [The] preliminary investigation report has come out today. Action should be taken against those responsible for the incident.' Alexander Butler15 July 2025 02:00 Not easy to 'accidentally' cut off fuel switches, expert says on Air India crash The fuel switches that were cut off before the Air India plane crash are the kind used on every flight, and designed so that this cannot easily "accidentally" happen, an aviation expert has said. The fuel switches are used at the end of every flight and in emergency scenarios such as a fire, director of aerospace and aviation at Cranfield University, Professor Graham Braithwaite said, adding that pilots would generally run through a checklist before turning them off. He said: "For obvious reasons, the two switches are a distance apart, so not a huge distance, but enough that you couldn't accidentally switch two when you're trying to switch one. "So it's not like the lights in your house, where they're right next to each other, so there is some space between them. "They're in that centre console, so that's in between the two pilots, so they can each reach them with the same ease." Alexander Butler15 July 2025 01:00 Recap: South Korea set to order airlines to check Boeing jet fuel switches South Korea is preparing to order all airlines in the country that operate Boeing jets to examine fuel switches in the focus of an investigation of a deadly Air India crash that killed 260 people. Fuel switch locks have come under scrutiny after a mention of a 2018 advisory from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in a preliminary report into last month's crash of Air India's Boeing 787-8 jet. A spokesperson for the South Korean transport ministry said the checks were in line with a 2018 advisory from the FAA, but did not give a timeline for inspections. Boeing referred Reuters' questions to the FAA, which was not immediately available to comment outside regular hours. Alexander Butler14 July 2025 23:00 Who were the pilots of doomed Air India flight as preliminary report brings scrutiny? Who were the pilots of doomed Air India flight? One pilot was nearing retirement while the other just beginning his aviation career Alexander Butler14 July 2025 22:00 Simon Calder answers your air travel safety questions – from Boeing worries to the truth about budget airlines Simon Calder on air travel safety – from Boeing to budget airlines
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- Scottish Sun
Horoscope today, July 15 2025: Daily star sign guide from Mystic Meg
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